Cooling apparatus and refrigerator having the same

ABSTRACT

Provided is a cooling apparatus that quickly cools beverages such as drinks or alcohols, can be installed on a refrigerator or a freezer, and reduces cooling time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cooling apparatus and a refrigeratorincluding the cooling apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

A refrigerator is a home appliance providing a low-temperature storagethat can be opened and closed by a door for storing foods at a lowtemperature. To this end, the storage of the refrigerator is cooled byusing air which is cooled by heat exchange with refrigerant in arefrigeration cycle.

Along with the change of people's eating patterns and preference, largeand multifunctional refrigerators have been introduced, and variouscomfortable structures have been added to refrigerators.

For example, the consumer's needs for a cooling apparatus that canquickly cool beverages such as drinks or alcohols which exist at roomtemperature are being increased. For this, various types of coolingapparatuses disposed at a side in a refrigerator to quickly cool drinksor alcohols are proposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a cooling apparatus, in which cool air collidingwith a movable beverage container is re-directed to the beveragecontainer, thereby quickly cooling a beverage in the beverage container.

Embodiments also provide a refrigerator including a cooling apparatus,in which cool air colliding with a movable beverage container isre-directed to the beverage container, thereby quickly cooling abeverage in the beverage container.

Technical Solution

In one embodiment, a cooling apparatus includes: a case forming anaccommodating space for a beverage container, cool air being introducedto and discharged from the case; a fan motor assembly for supplying thecool air into the case; an air hole disposed at a side of the case, andopened to discharge the cool air in a direction crossing a side surfaceof the beverage container; an agitating member rotatably disposed in thecase, the beverage container being placed on the agitating member; adriving assembly connected to the agitating member, and swing theagitating member to agitate a beverage in the beverage container; and anair guide disposed at both sides of the beverage container to surround aportion of the beverage container and guide the cool air toward thebeverage container.

In another embodiment, a cooling apparatus includes: a case forming aspace accommodating a beverage container; a fan motor assembly disposedon the case, and moving cool air for cooling the beverage container; aplurality of air holes provided to the case, and discharging the coolair to the beverage container; an agitating member disposed in the case,the beverage container being placed on the agitating member; and adriving assembly connected to the agitating member, and providing powerfor swing the agitating member, wherein the agitating member includes aholder shaft that provides a seating space for the beverage container,and that includes indents continuously recessed and protruding atpositions corresponding to the air holes.

In another embodiment, a cooling apparatus includes: a case having airholes through which cool air is introduced; a fan motor assemblydisposed on the case, and generating a flow of the cool air for quicklycooling a beverage container; an agitating member disposed in the case,the beverage container being placed on the agitating member; and adriving assembly connected to the agitating member, and reciprocatingthe agitating member, wherein the agitating member includes: a frontsupport forming a front surface; a rear support forming a rear surface;a plurality of holder shafts connecting the front support to the rearsupport, and forming a space in which the beverage container is seated;and an air guide installed on the holder shaft, and guiding the cool airfrom the air holes to the beverage container.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet forming atleast one storing space; a door opening and closing the storing space; acooling apparatus disposed in the refrigerator, and accommodating abeverage container; and a passage communicating with the coolingapparatus, and supplying cool air generated from an evaporator, to thecooling apparatus, wherein the cool apparatus includes: a case disposedat a side in the refrigerator; a fan motor assembly disposed on thecase, and generating a flow of the cool air into the case; an agitatingmember rotatably disposed in the case, the beverage container beingplaced on the agitating member; a driving assembly connected to theagitating member, and rotating the agitating member to agitate abeverage in the beverage container; and an air guide disposed in thecase, and having a predetermined curved surface to guide the cool air toa surface of the beverage container.

Advantageous Effect

The cooling apparatus configured as described above and the refrigeratorincluding the cooling apparatus have the following effects.

First, the driving assembly of the refrigerator swings the agitatingmember on which the beverage container is placed. Thus, a beverage isagitated in the beverage container to reduce a temperature variation ofthe beverage and quickly cool the beverage.

Secondly, the refrigerator includes the suction fan to increase a flowrate of cool air, thus, improving heat exchange between the beveragecontainer and the cool air. Accordingly, heat exchange efficiency isimproved.

Cool air supplied into the case has a high flow rate, andperpendicularly collides with the beverage container, so as to increasethe amount of heat exchange per unit time, thereby improving heatexchange efficiency.

Thirdly, cool air discharged to a beverage container collides with thebeverage container, and then, is re-directed to the beverage containerby the air guides. Thus, a contact area of the beverage container withthe cool air is increased, and the beverage container can be secondarilycooled, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

Fourthly, the holder shafts on which a beverage container is placed haveindents corresponding to the air holes through which cool air isdischarged, so as to prevent the cool air discharged from the air holesfrom colliding with the holder shafts, thereby minimizing dispersion ofthe cool air. Accordingly, a loss of the cool air is minimized, andthus, a beverage in the beverage container can be cooled moreefficiently.

In addition, the holder shafts may be provided with the air guides forguiding cool air such that cool air dispersed to the outside of theholder shafts is guided to the beverage container, thereby furtherimproving the cooling efficiency for the beverage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating refrigerator doors when being openedaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an inner structure of arefrigerator including a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3′ of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5′ of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view taken along line 6-6′ of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the front part ofthe cooling apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the agitating member.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the agitating memberof the cooling apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an air guide member of theagitating member.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which beveragecontainers are placed on an agitating member.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating flows of cool air in the statewhere the beverage containers are placed on the agitating member.

FIG. 13 is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) image illustrating flowsof cool air when the cooling apparatus operates.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus accordingto another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is perspective view illustrating an agitating member of thecooling apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating the agitating member.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating an agitating member coupledto guide members according to another embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating the agitating member.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a flow of cool air in theagitating member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating refrigerator doors when being openedaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating aninner structure of a refrigerator including a cooling apparatusaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline 3-3′ of FIG. 2.

A cooling apparatus according to an embodiment may be disposed in astoring space of a refrigerator for storing a food at low temperature.

In detail, the cooling apparatus is disposed in the refrigerator toperform a quick cooling operation with cool air generated in therefrigerator.

Although the cooling apparatus is disposed in the refrigerator in thefollowing embodiment, the cooling apparatus may be installed on anyapparatus for generating cool air, as well as the refrigerator.

A refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment includes an outer case 102constituting the appearance, an inner case 101 installed on the innerportion of the outer case 102 and forming an inner storing space, and aninsulating member filling a space between the inner case 101 and theouter case 102, thereby forming a main body.

The inner storing space may include a refrigerator compartment 103 forrefrigerating a food, and a freezer compartment 104 for freezing a food.The refrigerator compartment 103 is opened and closed by rotations of apair of refrigerator compartment doors, and the freezer compartment 104is opened and closed by sliding of a freezer compartment door. In thecurrent embodiment, the storing space is divided into upper and lowerportions by a partition 105, and the refrigerator compartment 103 isdisposed over the freezer compartment 104 to form a bottom freezer typerefrigerator.

Furthermore, the cooling apparatus may be installed on a top mount typerefrigerator in which a freezer compartment is disposed over arefrigerator compartment, a side-by-side type refrigerator in which afreezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment are disposed side byside, and a refrigerator having one of a freezer compartment and arefrigerator compartment.

In detail, an evaporating compartment 107 is formed on the rear surfaceof the freezer compartment 104 by an evaporating compartment wall 106,and the evaporating compartment 107 accommodates an evaporator 108. Theevaporating compartment wall 106 may be provided with a cool airdischarge opening 106 a for discharging cool air into the freezercompartment 104, and a cool air suction opening 106 b disposed in a rearsurface of the bottom of the freezer compartment 104 to return cool airfrom the freezer compartment 104 to the evaporating compartment 107.

A refrigerator compartment duct 109 vertically extends on the rearsurface of the refrigerator compartment 103, and the lower end of therefrigerator compartment duct 109 communicates with the evaporatingcompartment 107. The front surface of the refrigerator compartment duct109 may be provided with cool air discharge openings 109 a to supplycool air from the evaporating compartment 107 to the refrigeratorcompartment 103. An upper surface of the partition 105 may be providedwith a cool air suction opening (not shown) to return cool air from thefreezer compartment 103 to the evaporating compartment 107.

A cooling apparatus 10 for quickly cooling a beverage or alcohol may bedisposed at a side on the top surface of the partition 105. The coolingapparatus 10 may include a passage connecting to the evaporatingcompartment 107 and/or the freezer compartment 104 to fluidlycommunicate with the evaporating compartment 107 and/or the freezercompartment 104. For example, the cool air generated in the evaporatingcompartment 107 may be supplied into the cooling apparatus 10. Abeverage container 2 received in the cooling apparatus 10 may be cooledby the cool air supplied into the cooling apparatus 10. The cool airwhich is increased in temperature by heat-exchanging with the beveragecontainer 2 in the cooling apparatus 10 may return to the evaporatingcompartment 107. Here, the fluidic communication may represent that thecool air can be circulated between the evaporating compartment 107 andthe cooling apparatus 10 by a passage structure such as a duct. Also,the beverage container 2 used in the current embodiment may includevarious containers including bottles or cans in which water, a beverage,or alcohol is contained. Also, the cooling apparatus 10 may include acooling compartment defining a space for receiving the beveragecontainer 2 and/or a passage connecting the cooling compartment, thefreezer compartment 104, and the evaporating compartment 107 to eachother.

Hereinafter, a configuration, an operation, and a function of thecooling apparatus 10 will now be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the coolingapparatus 10 receives cool air from the evaporating compartment 107through the separate passage, and discharges cool air to the freezercompartment 104. A more detailed description will be made with referenceto other accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus accordingto an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5′of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view taken along line 6-6′of FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the frontpart of the cooling apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the cooling apparatus 10 may include acooling compartment and a cool air passage connected to the coolingcompartment.

In detail, the cooling compartment may include: a case 20 forming astoring space for the beverage container 2; a cover 60 opening andclosing an inlet of the case 20; an agitating member 50 selectivelyaccommodated in the case 20, the beverage container 2 being placed onthe agitating member 50; a fan motor assembly 30 installed on the case20 to forcibly move cool air; and a driving assembly 40 coupled to thecase 20 to drive the agitating member 50.

In more detail, the case 20 has front and rear openings, and has a spaceaccommodating the agitating member 50 and the beverage container 2. Therear opening of the case 20 may be provided with the driving assembly40, and the driving assembly 40 may close the rear opening of the case20.

The front surface of the case 20 is provided with an inlet 21 forreceiving the beverage container 2. The inlet 21 is inclined to increasein length downward, thereby more facilitating access with the beveragecontainer 2. The inlet 21 is opened and closed by the cover 60 having acorresponding shape to the inlet 21. A gasket 61 may be disposed at theedge of the cover 60 or the front end of the case 20. When the cover 60is closed, the gasket 61 prevents leakage of cool air from the case 20.

Cover fixing parts 211 are disposed at the front end of the case 20provided with the inlet 21. Fixing members 62 provided to the cover 60are inserted in and fixed to the cover fixing parts 211 to maintainclosing of the cover 60. The cover fixing parts 211 and the fixingmembers 62 are disposed at the left and right sides of the coolingapparatus 10 to stably maintain closing of the cover 60.

The lower end of the inlet 21 is provided with cover coupling parts 212.The cover coupling part 212 is coupled to the lower end of the cover 60through a shaft. Thus, the cover 60 may rotate about the cover couplingpart 212 as an axis, to open and close the inlet 21.

An opening 22 is disposed in the top surface of the case 20 to check theinside of the case 20 and assemble and repair inner parts. The opening22 may be covered by an opening cover 221. The position of the opening22 may be varied on the case 20.

A suction grill 23 may be removably attached to the bottom surface ofthe case 20, and be disposed at an outlet of a suction duct 11. Thesuction grill 23 is installed on a cool air introduction opening 24 inthe bottom surface of the case 20.

The cool air introduction opening 24 is disposed at a set position ofthe case 20. In this case, the set position of the cool air introductionopening 24 may be a position corresponding to the position of onebeverage container 2 placed on the agitating member 50. Accordingly,cool air passing through the suction grill 23 is entirely directed tothe outer surface of the beverage container 2 to cool the beveragecontainer 2.

The bottom surface of the suction grill 23 may be provided with aplurality of air holes 231. In detail, since the air holes 231 have asmall diameter, a flow rate of cool air quickly increases, passingthrough the outlet of the suction duct 11, that is, the suction grill23. Thus, since cool air passing through the air holes 231 forms a jetstream, the air holes 231 may be called jet holes. The air holes 231 arespaced a constant distance from one another, and uniformly distributedin a surface of the suction grill 23.

The upper end of the suction grill 23 is bent outward and extends to behung on the bottom of the case 20, so that the suction grill 23 can beremovably attached to the bottom of the case 20. In this case, a lockingstructure may be provided to prevent a removal of the suction grill 23from the bottom of the case 20 due to sucked air.

Cool air is vertically discharged from the air holes 231 of the suctiongrill 23 to a large area of the beverage container 2 placed on theagitating member 50, that is, to a side surface thereof. When cool airdischarged from the air holes 231 perpendicularly contacts the beveragecontainer 2, cooling efficiency for the beverage container 2 ismaximized.

The agitating member 50 is disposed in the case 20, and is installed onan agitating member support 25 disposed in the bottom of the case 20.The agitating member 50 can swing left and right about the agitatingmember support 25 as an axis in the case 20, and is connected to thedriving assembly 40 to repeatedly and continuously swing a predeterminedangle, thereby agitating a beverage in the beverage container 2. Adetailed configuration of the agitating member 50 will be describedlater.

The cooling compartment may include the driving assembly 40 to providedriving force to the agitating member 50 that repeatedly rotates leftand right in the case 20.

The fan motor assembly 30 may include: a suction fan 31 for forciblymoving air; a fan housing 32 accommodating the suction fan 31 andinstalled on the rear surface of the case 20; and a fan motor 33disposed behind the fan housing 32 and providing torque to the suctionfan 31.

In detail, cool air generated from the evaporating compartment 107 issucked with great suction force by the suction fan 31. Air introducedalong the cool air passage into the case 20 is moved at high speed tothe rear side of the case 20 by great suction force of the suction fan31. At this point, the air contacts the outer surface of the beveragecontainer 2 disposed in the case 20, to exchange heat. A flow rate ofair sucked by the suction fan 31 is higher than that of air blown by ablower. This is because pressure difference between the front and rearsides of the suction fan 31 is quickly increased. In addition, since theflow rate of the air sucked by the suction fan 31 increases, the amountof heat exchange between the beverage container 2 and the air increases.Accordingly, heat exchange efficiency is improved.

Cool air sucked by the suction fan 31 exchanges heat with the beveragecontainer 2 in the case 20 before the fan motor 33 driving the suctionfan 31. Accordingly, the amount of heat exchange between the cool airand the beverage container 2 relatively increases, and thus, heatexchange efficiency is improved. If a blower blows air, the air blown bythe blower passes through a fan motor for driving the blower, and then,exchanges heat with the beverage container 2. That is, the blown coolair absorbs heat, passing through the fan motor, and then, exchangesheat with the beverage container 2. Thus, heat exchange efficiency ofthe suction fan 31 is higher than that of a blower.

The suction fan 31 may be a centrifugal fan that axially sucks air toradially discharge the air. Air passing through the case 20 horizontallyflow as a whole, and should moves downward to return to the evaporatingcompartment 107. That is, the direction of the air passing through thecase 20 crosses the direction of the air discharged from the suction fan31. Thus, a centrifugal fan is appropriated to a passage in which thedirections of air cross each other.

Pneumatic resistance of the suction fan 31 is smaller than that of ablower. For example, air blown by a blower cannot pass through a narrowgap or an obstacle in an air passage, and is spread or flows back. Onthe contrary, the suction fan 31 sucks air at the inlet thereof to causepressure difference. Thus, air at the front side of a narrow gap or anobstacle can easily pass through the narrow gap or the obstacle bypressure difference between the front and rear sides thereof. As aresult, under the same condition, pneumatic resistance of air sucked bythe suction fan 31 is smaller than that of air blown by a blower, and aflow rate of air sucked by the suction fan 31 is larger than that of airblown by a blower.

In addition, although the suction fan 31 is a centrifugal fan, thestructure of the suction fan 31 is different from that of a typicalcentrifugal fan. In detail, the suction fan 31 includes: a back plate311 having a circular plate shape; blades 312 disposed on the frontsurface of the back plate 311; and a suction guide 313 disposed on thefront end of the blades 312. The blades 312 having a predetermined widthprotrude forward from the front surface of the back plate 311, and arerounded with a predetermined curvature in a radial direction from thecenter of the back plate 311. The suction guide 313 functions as acombination of a typical bell mouth and a typical orifice. That is, thesuction guide 313 smoothly guides an air flow from the front side of thefan housing 32 into the suction fan 31, and prevents a backflow of airdischarged in the radial direction along the surfaces of the blades 312.

In detail, the suction guide 313 protrudes forward from a circularbottom, and gradually decreases in diameter. In other words, a verticalcross section of the suction guide 313 may have a rounded structurewhere the suction guide 313 gradually decreases in diameter on ahorizontal cross-section from the bottom to the upper end, and has aconstant diameter on a horizontal cross-section at a predeterminedposition. As such, since the outer surface of the suction guide 313 issmoothly rounded, pneumatic resistance applied on sucked air can beminimized, thereby providing a function of an orifice. In addition, thesuction guide 313 has a barrel shape extending a predetermined lengthfrom the bottom of the suction guide 313 to minimize a back flow of airsucked through an inlet of the suction guide 313, thereby providing afunction of a bell mouth. A grill 314 may be disposed at the front sideof the suction guide 313 to prevent introduction of a foreign substance.

The cool air passage may include the suction duct 11 for supplying coolair from the evaporating compartment 107 to the case 20, and a returnduct 12 for discharging cool air from the case 20 to the freezercompartment 104. In detail, an inlet (or suction opening) of the suctionduct 11 may communicate with the evaporating compartment 107, and theoutlet (or discharge opening) thereof may communicate with the bottom ofthe case 20. An inlet of the return duct 12 may be connected to thebottom of the fan housing 32, an outlet (or discharge opening) 121thereof may be connected to the freezer compartment 104. Referring toFIG. 2, the discharge opening 121 of the return duct 12 may be disposedon the rear surface of the freezer compartment 104.

The driving assembly 40 may include a driving motor 41 generatingtorque, and a transmission unit 42 connecting the driving motor 41 tothe agitating member 50 to rotate the agitating member 50, which will bedescribed later.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the agitating member accordingto the current embodiment. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective viewillustrating the agitating member. FIG. 10 is a perspective viewillustrating an air guide member of the agitating member.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, the agitating member 50 accommodates thebeverage container 2 to shake the beverage container 2. In detail, theagitating member 50 may include: a front support 51 forming a frontsurface of the agitating member 50; a rear support 52 forming a rearsurface of the agitating member 50; and a plurality of holder shafts 53connecting the front support 51 to the rear support 52. The beveragecontainer 2 is placed on the holder shafts 53.

The front support 51 and the rear support 52 have the same shape, andare coupled to the holder shafts 53. The front support 51 and the rearsupport 52 may be installed on the bottom of the case 20 to swing leftand right. Since the front support 51 and the rear support 52 have thesame shape, the front support 51 will be mainly described hereinafter.

The front support 51 may include a coupling portion 511 coupled to acoupling member 513, and extensions 512 extending upward from the leftand right sides of the coupling portion 511 and coupled to the holdershafts 53.

The coupling portion 511 is disposed in the middle of the front support51, and extends downward. The coupling member 513 has a shaft shape, andis coupled to the coupling portion 511 to cross the coupling portion511. The coupling member 513 passes through the coupling portion 511 andthe agitating member support 25 of the case 20, so that the frontsupport 51 can rotate left and right about the coupling member 513 as anaxis.

The extensions 512 are disposed at the upper end of the coupling portion511. The extensions 512 are disposed at the left and right sides of thefront support 51, and each of the extensions 512 is coupled to two ofthe holder shafts 53, so that the beverage container 2 can be placed onthe holder shafts 53.

The holder shaft 53 horizontally extends in the form of a shaft or abar, and is connected to the front support 51 and the rear support 52.The holder shafts 53 are provided in a pair on the upper and lowerportions of the extension 512, and are spaced a predetermined distancefrom each other, so that the beverage container 2 can be accommodated ina space defined by the holder shafts 53. Cool air can efficiently flowinto the space defined by the holder shafts 53. Since a distance betweenthe holder shafts 53 at the lower side is smaller than a distancebetween the holder shafts 53 at the upper side, the beverage container 2can be more stably placed on the holder shafts 53. The holder shafts 53may be disposed at edges of the front support 51 and the rear support52.

A neck holder 54 may be installed on the holder shafts 53 to support theneck of a beverage container such as a wine bottle. The neck holder 54can move along the holder shafts 53 according to the size of a bottle.

The neck holder 54 is installed on the holder shafts 53 at the lowerside, and includes a first member 541 and a second member 542 spacedapart from each other, and elastic members 543 disposed between thefirst and second members 541 and 542. Thus, when the second member 542moves with the first member 541 fixed, the elastic members 543 arecompressed.

The second member 542 is disposed at a position corresponding to therear end of the suction grill 23. Thus, when the beverage container 2 isplaced on the agitating member 50, the beverage container 2 contacts thesecond member 542, and the suction grill 23 is disposed at a positioncorresponding to the beverage container 2, thereby effectively coolingthe beverage container 2.

When a long bottle as the beverage container 2 is placed on theagitating member 50, or when two cans as the beverage container 2 areplaced thereon, the neck holder 54 may be moved, or the second member542 may be moved to dispose the beverage container 2 at an appropriateposition. When the elastic members 543 are compressed, the second member542 may press and fix the beverage container 2. Accordingly, thebeverage container 2 can be stably fixed to the agitating member 50.

The agitating member 50 is provided with air guides 55. The air guide 55guides cool air discharged from the air holes 231 of the suction grill23 to prevent dispersion of the cool air after colliding with thebeverage container 2, so that the cool air flows along the beveragecontainer 2 to cool the beverage container 2 again.

The air guides 55 are disposed at the left and right sides of theagitating member 50. The air guide 55 may have a length corresponding toor greater than the length of the suction grill 23, and have apredetermined vertical width. Thus, the air guides 55 are installed onthe holder shafts 53 disposed at the upper side. so that the beveragecontainer 2 placed on the agitating member 50 can be surrounded by theair guides 55 at the left and right sides.

The air guides 55 are rounded to surround the outer surface of thebeverage container 2. The air guides 55 are disposed at the left andright sides to correspond to the suction grill 23, thereby guiding coolair discharged from the suction grill 23. The lower ends of the airguides 55 extend out of the left and right ends of the suction grill 23to guide all cool air discharged from the suction grill 23 into thespace between the air guides 55.

Air guide installation parts 551 are disposed on the upper ends of theair guides 55 to install the air guides 55. The air guide installationpart 551 is recessed from the upper end of the air guide 55, and extendsfrom an end of the air guide 55 to the other end. Thus, the air guideinstallation part 551 can be fixed to the holder shaft 53. The air guideinstallation part 551 may be coupled to the holder shaft 53 disposed atthe upper side, and be press-fit coupled to the holder shaft 53, or befixed by a fixing member such as adhesive.

A guide 552 is disposed under the air guide installation part 551. Theguide 552 has a predetermined curvature to guide cool air along theouter surface of the beverage container 2.

The guide 552 is provided with guide plates 553 spaced a predetermineddistance from one another. The guide plates 553 guide cool air to flowuniformly on the entire surface of the air guide 55, and thus, the coolair can flow uniformly on the entire surface of the beverage container2.

In detail, the guide plates 553 may have a plate shape verticallyextending, and be laterally arrayed with a predetermined gaptherebetween. Thus, a passage 554 for passing cool air is disposedbetween neighboring ones of the guide plates 553. The guide plate 553may extend from a side of the guide 552 to the air guide installationpart 551, and have an inclined or rounded protrusion.

The agitating member 50 can be swung by the driving assembly 40. Thedriving assembly 40, which swings the agitating member 50 to agitate thebeverage in the beverage container 2, is connected to a side of theagitating member 50.

Hereinafter, the driving assembly will now be described in more detail.

The driving assembly 40 may include the driving motor 41 generatingtorque, and the transmission unit 42 transmitting the torque from thedriving motor 41 to rotate the agitating member 50

In detail, the driving motor 41 has the same structure as that of atypical electric motor, and may be disposed on the outside of the case20. A rotation shaft 411 of the driving motor 41 passes through the case20, extends into the case 20, and is coupled to the transmission unit 42in the case 20. Although the driving motor 41 may be disposed in thecase 20, the driving motor 41 is disposed out of the case 20 to preventdegradation of cooling efficiency of the cooling apparatus 10 due toheat from the driving motor 41.

The driving motor 41 may be a typical DC motor. Torque from the drivingmotor 41 is converted by the transmission unit 42 to swing the agitatingmember 50. The driving motor 41 may be a stepping motor that can rotateforward and reverse by a constant angle. Thus, the driving motor 41 canrepeatedly rotate forward and reverse by a constant angle, so that theagitating member 50 can swing.

The transmission unit 42 is installed on the driving motor 41. Thetransmission unit 42 includes a rotation member 421 connected to therotation shaft 411 of the driving motor 41, and a connecting member 422connecting the rotation member 421 to the holder shaft 53. The rotationshaft 411 of the driving motor 41 is parallel to an extension line ofthe holder shafts 53.

In detail, the rotation member 421 is coupled to the rotation shaft 411of the driving motor 41, and rotates together with the rotation shaft411 when the rotation shaft 411 rotates. The rotation member 421 and therotation shaft 411 extend in the same direction. The rotation member 421may include a shaft coupler 421 a coupled to the rotation shaft 411, andan extension 421 b extending from an end of the shaft coupler 421 a in adirection crossing the rotation shaft 411.

The connecting member 422 crosses extension directions of the rotationshaft 411 and the holder shafts 53, and may have a rod shape with apredetermined length. An end of the connecting member 422 is rotatablycoupled through a link or shaft member to the extension 421 b of therotation member 421, and the other end thereof is connected to theholder shaft 53. The connecting member 422 is adjacent to the rearsupport 52, and is coupled to the holder shaft 53 at the lower side.

Thus, when the driving motor 41 repeatedly rotates forward and backwardthrough a predetermined angle, the rotation member 421 also repeatedlyrotates through the predetermined angle, and the connecting member 422reciprocates. While the connecting member 422 reciprocates, theagitating member 50 repeatedly rotates, that is, swings through apredetermined angle.

Hereinafter, an operation of a cooling apparatus will now be describedaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which beveragecontainers are placed on an agitating member. FIG. 12 is a schematicview illustrating flows of cool air in the state where the beveragecontainers are placed on the agitating member. FIG. 13 is acomputational fluid dynamics (CFD) image illustrating flows of cool airwhen the cooling apparatus operates.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, the bottom of the cooling compartment,particularly, the bottom of the case 20 is connected to the dischargeend of the suction duct 11. The suction grill 23 is disposed on thebottom of the case 20 connected to the discharge end of the suction duct11, and the speed of air sucked through the suction duct 11 increaseswhile passing through the suction grill 23. As described above, this isbecause the air holes 231 are disposed in the suction grill 23.

The cool air passing through the suction grill 23 at high speed may bedischarged in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of thebeverage container 2. Since the beverage container 2 has a cylindricalshape, when the cool air passing through the suction grill 23perpendicularly collides with the outer surface of the beveragecontainer 2, heat exchange efficiency is maximized. When a flowdirection of cool air passing through the suction grill 23 is notperpendicular to the outer surface of the beverage container 2, aportion of the cool air may be discharged out of the case 20, withoutcolliding with the beverage container 2. That is, cool air suckedthrough the suction grill 23 may perpendicularly collide with the outersurface of the beverage container 2 to minimize the amount of cool airdischarged without heat exchange.

Most of cool air passing through the suction grill 23 perpendicularcollides with the outer surface of the beverage container 2. The coolair perpendicularly colliding with the outer surface of the beveragecontainer 2, and the cool air flowing out of the beverage container 2are guided by the air guides 55.

In detail, the cool air perpendicularly colliding with the outer surfaceof the beverage container 2 moves along the guides 552 of the air guides55, and contacts again the out surface of the beverage container 2. Thatis, the cool air contacting the outer surface of the beverage container2 to primarily cool the beverage container 2 contacts again the outersurface of the beverage container 2 to secondarily cool the beveragecontainer 2. The cool air passing through the suction grill 23 andflowing out of the beverage container 2 are guided to the outer surfaceof the beverage container 2 by the air guides 55 to cool the beveragecontainer 2. The cool air guided by the air guides 55 is provideduniformly on the beverage container 2 by the guide plates 553, so thatthe beverage container 2 can be uniformly cooled.

The suction fan 31 axially sucks the cool air to radially discharge thecool air, and the fan housing 32 guides the cool air to the freezercompartment 104 through the return duct 12.

While the suction fan 31 rotates, the agitating member 50 swings. Tothis end, the driving motor 41 is rotated. The driving motor 41 may becontinuously rotated, or be rotated forward and reverse by a constantangle. The agitating member 50 repeatedly swings according to anoperation of the transmission unit 42 connected to the rotation shaft411 of the driving motor 41.

In detail, when the rotation shaft 411 of the driving motor 41 rotates,the rotation member 421 coupled to the rotation shaft 411 also rotates,and the connecting member 422 extending from a side of the rotationmember 421 reciprocates to move the holder shaft 53 of the agitatingmember 50. Since the lower end of the agitating member 50 isshaft-coupled to the agitating member support 25, the agitating member50 swings left and right through a predetermined angle about theagitating member support 25 as an axis.

When the suction fan 31 sucks the cool air, and the agitating member 50swings to agitate the beverage in the beverage container 2, therebyquickly cooling the beverage. Due to the air guide 55, the cool airdischarged from the suction grill 23 effectively cools the outer surfaceof the beverage container 2, thereby more quickly and effectivelycooling the beverage in the beverage container 2.

A refrigerator according to the present disclosure may be describedaccording to various embodiments. Hereinafter, a refrigerator will nowbe described according to another embodiment.

In the current embodiment, holder shafts of an agitating member haveindents to minimize an interference between the holder shafts and coolair passing through a suction grill, thereby improving a flow of thecool air.

Thus, in the current embodiment, the rest parts except for the shape ofthe holder shafts are the same as those of the previous embodiments, andthus, a description thereof will be omitted, and like reference numeralsdenote like elements.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus accordingto the current embodiment. FIG. 15 is perspective view illustrating anagitating member of the cooling apparatus. FIG. 16 is a plan viewillustrating the agitating member.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 16, a cooling apparatus 10 includes a fan motorassembly 30 to forcibly suck and circulate cool air, and a suction grill23 for passing cool air is disposed in a case 20. The suction grill 23includes air holes 231 to discharge cool air in a direction crossing anouter surface of a beverage container 2. The case 20 is opened andclosed by a cover 60, so that the beverage container 2 to be cooled canbe disposed in the case 20.

The agitating member 50, which is repeatedly swung by a driving assembly40, may be disposed in the case 20 of the cooling apparatus 10. Theagitating member 50 may include: a front support 51 forming a frontsurface of the agitating member 50; a rear support 52 forming a rearsurface of the agitating member 50; and a plurality of the holder shafts53 connecting the front support 51 to the rear support 52. The beveragecontainer 2 is placed on the holder shafts 53.

The holder shafts 53 are provided in a pair at each of the left andright sides of the agitating member 50. A distance between the holdershafts 53 at the lower side of the agitating member 50 is smaller than adistance between the holder shafts 53 at the upper side, so that thebeverage container 2 can be stably placed on the holder shafts 53.

The holder shafts 53 at the lower side include a series of indents 531for facilitating a flow of cool air. The indents 531 are continuouslyarrayed in a region corresponding to the suction grill 23 to minimize aninterference of the holder shafts 53 and cool air discharged from thelower side.

In detail, each of the indents 531 is disposed at a position tocorrespond to each of the air holes 231 of the suction grill 23.Neighboring ones of the indents 531 are indented to opposite sides toeach other. The indents 531 are alternately disposed at a position closeto the air hole 231 and a position far from the air hole 231.

Cool air discharged through the air holes 231 collides with the beveragecontainer 2 and flows along the outer surface of the beverage container2. A portion of the cool air flowing along the outer surface of thebeverage container 2 passes through the holder shafts 53 disposed at thelower side. A portion of the cool air is guided to the inside of theholder shaft 53 by the indents 531 disposed inside the holder shaft 53,and the other of the cool air is guided to the outside of the holdershaft 53 by the indents 531 disposed outside the holder shaft 53. Thatis, cool air from the air holes 231 can be discharged through the insideand outside of the indents 531, without colliding with the holder shafts53.

Thus, cool air discharged through the air holes 231 corresponding to theindents 531 disposed at the inside of the holder shaft 53 is dischargedthrough the inside of the indents 531, and cool air discharged throughthe air holes 231 corresponding to the indents 531 disposed at theoutside of the holder shaft 53 is discharged through the outside of theindents 531. The indents 531 disposed inside the holder shafts 53contact the outer surface of the beverage container 2 placed on theagitating member 50, so that the beverage container 2 can be stablyplaced on the agitating member 50. That is, the indents 531 of theholder shaft 53 stably fix the beverage container 2, and facilitate aflow of cool air discharged through the air holes 231.

The holder shafts 53 are provided with a movable neck holder 54, so thatthe beverage container 2 having an arbitrary size can be placed on theagitating member 50. The neck holder 54 includes a first member 541, asecond member 542, and elastic members 543 disposed between the firstand second members 541 and 542, so as to stably fix a beverage containerhaving an arbitrary size or a plurality of beverage containers.

A transmission unit 42 is connected to a side of the holder shaft 53.The transmission unit 42 includes a rotation member 421 connected to arotation shaft 411 of a driving motor 41, and a connecting member 422connecting the rotation member 421 to the holder shafts 53. Accordingly,torque from the driving motor 41 is converted to repeatedly swing theagitating member 50.

Thus, the fan motor assembly 30 is driven to move cool air in the case20, thereby cooling the beverage container 2. At this point, the drivingassembly 40 is driven to swing the agitating member 50, so that thebeverage in the beverage container 2 can be agitated while being cooled.Since a portion of the cool air passing through the suction grill 23 andflowing along the outer surface of the beverage container 2 passesthrough the indents 531 of the holder shafts 53, the cool airefficiently flows, thereby more effectively cooling the beveragecontainer 2.

A refrigerator according to the present disclosure may be describedaccording to various embodiments. Hereinafter, a refrigerator will nowbe described according to another embodiment.

In the current embodiment, holder shafts of an agitating member haveindents, and guide members are disposed outside the indents to guidecool air, to improve a flow of cool air in a cooling apparatus.

Thus, in the current embodiment, the rest parts except for the shape ofthe holder shafts are the same as those of the previous embodiments, andthus, a description thereof will be omitted, and like reference numeralsdenote like elements.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating an agitating member and guidemembers according to the current embodiment. FIG. 18 is a plan viewillustrating the agitating member. FIG. 19 is a perspective viewillustrating a flow of cool air in the agitating member.

Referring to FIGS. 17 to 19, a cooling apparatus 10 includes a fan motorassembly 30 to forcibly suck and circulate cool air, and a suction grill23 for passing cool air is disposed in a case 20. The suction grill 23includes air holes 231 to discharge cool air in a direction crossing anouter surface of a beverage container 2. The case 20 is opened andclosed by a cover 60, so that the beverage container 2 to be cooled canbe disposed in the case 20.

The agitating member 50, which is repeatedly swung by a driving assembly40, may be disposed in the case 20 of the cooling apparatus 10. Theagitating member 50 may include: a front support 51 forming a frontsurface of the agitating member 50; a rear support 52 forming a rearsurface of the agitating member 50; and a pair of holder shafts 53connecting the front support 51 to the rear support 52. The beveragecontainer 2 is placed on the holder shafts 53.

The holder shafts 53 are provided in a pair at each of the left andright sides of the agitating member 50. A distance between the holdershafts 53 at the lower side of the agitating member 50 is smaller than adistance between the holder shafts 53 at the upper side, so that thebeverage container 2 can be stably placed on the holder shafts 53.

The holder shafts 53 at the lower side include a series of indents 531for facilitating a flow of cool air. The indents 531 are continuouslyarrayed in a region corresponding to the suction grill 23 to minimize aninterference of the holder shafts 53 and cool air discharged from thelower side.

In detail, each of the indents 531 is disposed at a position tocorrespond to each of the air holes 231 of the suction grill 23.Neighboring ones of the indents 531 are indented to opposite sides toeach other. The indents 531 are alternately disposed at a position closeto the air hole 231 and a position far from the air hole 231.

Cool air discharged through the air holes 231 collides with the beveragecontainer 2 and flows along the outer surface of the beverage container2. A portion of the cool air flowing along the outer surface of thebeverage container 2 passes through the holder shafts 53 disposed at thelower side. A portion of the cool air is guided to the inside of theholder shaft 53 by the indents 531 disposed inside the holder shaft 53,and the other of the cool air is guided to the outside of the holdershaft 53 by the indents 531 disposed outside the holder shaft 53. Thatis, cool air from the air holes 231 can be discharged through the insideand outside of the indents 531, without colliding with the holder shafts53.

Thus, cool air discharged through the air holes 231 corresponding to theindents 531 disposed at the inside of the holder shaft 53 is dischargedthrough the inside of the indents 531, and cool air discharged throughthe air holes 231 corresponding to the indents 531 disposed at theoutside of the holder shaft 53 is discharged through the outside of theindents 531. The indents 531 disposed inside the holder shafts 53contact the outer surface of the beverage container 2 placed on theagitating member 50, so that the beverage container 2 can be stablyplaced on the agitating member 50. That is, the indents 531 of theholder shaft 53 stably fix the beverage container 2, and facilitate aflow of cool air discharged through the air holes 231.

Air guides 56 may be installed on the holder shafts 53 provided with theindents 531. Cool air flowing through the inside and outside of theindents 531 is guided to the beverage container 2 by the air guides 56.

In detail, the air guide 56 is installed on the outer portion of theholder shaft 53, and has a length corresponding to the entire length ofa series of the indents 531. Thus, the air guide 56 entirely covers theindents 531. The inner surface of the air guide 56 is provided withrecesses 564. Thus, when being installed, the air guide 56 closelycontacts the outer surface of the holder shaft 53. The recesses 564 arearrayed from an end of the air guide 56 to the other end, so as tocontact all the indents 531. Accordingly, the air guides 56 can be morestably installed on the holder shafts 53.

The inner surface of the air guide 56 has a predetermined curvature toguide cool air contacting the air guide 56 toward the beverage container2. The inner portion of the air guide 56 is divided into a plurality ofspaces to independently guide cool air passing through each of theindents 531.

In detail, the inner surface of the air guide 56 is provided with innerguides 561 and outer guides 562 that are disposed at positions tocorrespond to the indents 531. The inner guides 561 contact the outersurfaces of the indents 531 disposed outside the holder shaft 53, toguide cool air passing through the inside of the indents 531. The outerguides 562 contact the outer surfaces of the indents 531 disposed insidethe holder shaft 53, and support the outer surfaces of the indents 531,and spaces 563 for passing cool air are disposed between the indents 531and the air guide 56. Thus, cool air passing through the outside of theindents 531 can be guided through the spaces 563 defined by the outerguides 562. Then, the cool air passing through the spaces 563 are guidedtoward the beverage container 2 along the curvature of the inner surfaceof the air guide 56.

Thus, a portion of cool air passing through the suction grill 23collides with the outer surface of the beverage container 2 and movesalong the outer surface. Then, the cool air flows through the inside andoutside of the indents 531, and is guided toward the beverage container2 through the inner guides 561 and the outer guides 562, thereby coolingthe beverage container 2 again.

The holder shafts 53 are provided with a movable neck holder 54, so thatthe beverage container 2 having an arbitrary size can be placed on theagitating member 50. The neck holder 54 includes a first member 541, asecond member 542, and elastic members 543 disposed between the firstand second members 541 and 542, so as to stably fix a beverage containerhaving an arbitrary size or a plurality of beverage containers.

A transmission unit 42 is connected to a side of the holder shaft 53.The transmission unit 42 includes a rotation member 421 connected to arotation shaft 411 of a driving motor 41, and a connecting member 422connecting the rotation member 421 to the holder shafts 53. Accordingly,torque from the driving motor 41 is converted to repeatedly swing theagitating member 50.

Thus, the fan motor assembly 30 is driven to move cool air in the case20, thereby cooling the beverage container 2. At this point, the drivingassembly 40 is driven to swing the agitating member 50, so that thebeverage in the beverage container 2 can be agitated while being cooled.The air guides 56 guide cool air, colliding with the beverage container2 and the holder shafts 53, to the outer surface of the beveragecontainer 2, thereby more effectively cooling the beverage container 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS

-   10: Cooling Apparatus-   20: Case-   30: Fan Motor Assembly-   40: Driving Assembly-   50: Agitating Member-   55: Air Guide-   60: Cover

1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body; a refrigeratingcompartment and a freezing compartment being configured to maintainoperating temperatures that differ, with the freezing compartment havingan operating temperature that is lower than an operating temperature ofthe refrigerating compartment; and a cooling apparatus that ispositioned in the refrigerating compartment and that is configured tocool liquid held by a container positioned in the cooling apparatus to arefrigerated temperature faster than the refrigerating compartment, thecooling apparatus comprising: a case that is configured to receive thecontainer holding the liquid and that includes an inlet and an outlet;at least one fan configured to promote movement of air into the casethrough the inlet, over the container holding the liquid, and out of thecase through the outlet; a drawer comprising an agitating member that isconfigured to agitate the container holding the liquid, the drawer beingremovable from the case to enable loading of the container holding theliquid to the agitating member and the drawer being replaceable in thecase to enable cooling of the container holding the liquid by thecooling apparatus; and a power generator that includes a portion fixedto the case and that is configured to generate a driving force thatcauses the agitating member to agitate the container holding the liquid.2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the drawer comprises a doorconfigured to open and close a front opening of the case based on thedrawer being removed and replaced in the case.
 3. The refrigerator ofclaim 1, wherein the drawer is configured to slide into and out of thecase.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 1: wherein the agitating member isconfigured to swing the container holding the liquid; and wherein thepower generator is configured to generate a driving force that causesthe agitating member to swing the container holding the liquid.
 5. Therefrigerator of claim 1, wherein the power generator comprises anelectro-magnetic power generator that includes an electromagnet and thatis configured to generate a driving force that causes the agitatingmember to agitate the container holding the liquid.
 6. The refrigeratorof claim 5: wherein the agitating member is configured to move based onthe driving force generated by the electro-magnetic power generator;wherein the electromagnet is configured to selectively generate amagnetic force; wherein the electro-magnetic power generator comprises apermanent magnet configured to be moved based on the magnetic forcegenerated by the electromagnet, the electromagnet and the permanentmagnet interacting to cause the agitating member to move; wherein theelectromagnet is fixed to one of the case and the agitating member; andwherein the permanent magnet is fixed to the other one of the case andthe agitating member to which the electromagnet is not fixed such thatone of the electromagnet and the permanent magnet moves with theagitating member and the other of the electromagnet and the permanentmagnet remains fixed to the case.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 6,wherein the electromagnet is fixed to the case and the permanent magnetis fixed to the agitating member such that the permanent magnet moveswith the agitating member and the electromagnet remains fixed to thecase.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein, when the drawer isreplaced in the case, the electromagnet and the permanent magnet have arelative orientation in which the electromagnet and the permanent magnetalign and an air gap is defined between the electromagnet and thepermanent magnet, the relative orientation enabling the electromagnetand the permanent magnet to interact when the electromagnet generatesthe magnetic force.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the powergenerator comprises: a motor configured to generate a rotation force;and a power transmission unit that connects to the motor, that connectsto the agitating member, and that is configured to move the agitatingmember based on the rotation force generated by the motor.
 10. Therefrigerator of claim 9, wherein the agitating member is configured todisconnect from the power transmission unit and connect with the powertransmission unit based on the drawer being removed and replaced in thecase.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the power transmissionunit comprises: a rotation member that connects to a rotation shaft ofthe motor; and a rod with a first end that connects to the rotationmember and a second end that connects to the agitating member.
 12. Therefrigerator of claim 11, wherein the first end of the rod is disposedat an eccentric position from a rotation center of the rotation memberso that a reciprocating motion of a length direction of the rod isconverted into a swinging motion of the agitating member.
 13. Therefrigerator of claim 12, further comprising a connection member thatconnects the second end of the rod to a rotation shaft of the agitatingmember, wherein a position at which the second end of the rod isconnected to the connection member is eccentrically disposed from arotation center of the agitating member.
 14. The refrigerator of claim1, wherein the at least one fan comprises a suction fan that ispositioned at the outlet and that is configured to draw air into thecase through the inlet, draw air entering the case over the containerholding the liquid positioned in the cooling apparatus, and expel airfrom the case through the outlet.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 14,further comprising: an evaporating compartment positioned behind thefreezing compartment; an evaporator positioned within the evaporatingcompartment and configured to cool air to a temperature below freezing;a supply duct configured to guide air from the evaporating compartmentto the inlet of the case; and a return duct configured to guide air fromthe outlet of the case to the freezing compartment, wherein the suctionfan is configured to draw air from the evaporating compartment throughthe supply duct, through the inlet, and into the case, and expel airfrom the case, through the outlet, and into the return duct.
 16. Therefrigerator of claim 15, further comprising a damper positioned at thereturn duct and configured to open and close the return duct.
 17. Therefrigerator of claim 16, wherein, when the cooling apparatus isoperating, the damper opens the return duct and the suction fan operatesand, when the cooling apparatus is not operating, the damper closes thereturn duct and the suction fan is off.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 1,further comprising a grill that is positioned at the inlet and that hasmultiple through holes through which air entering the case passes, thegrill increasing velocity of air passing though the grill.
 19. Therefrigerator of claim 18, wherein the grill is oriented such that airpassing though the grill is discharged in a direction perpendicular toan outer surface of the container holding the liquid.
 20. A coolingapparatus configured to cool liquid held by a container positioned inthe cooling apparatus to a refrigerated temperature, the coolingapparatus comprising: a case that is configured to receive the containerholding the liquid and that includes an inlet and an outlet; at leastone fan configured to promote movement of air into the case through theinlet, over the container holding the liquid, and out of the casethrough the outlet; a drawer comprising an agitating member that isconfigured to agitate the container holding the liquid, the drawer beingremovable from the case to enable loading of the container holding theliquid to the agitating member and the drawer being replaceable in thecase to enable cooling of the container holding the liquid by thecooling apparatus; and a power generator that includes a portion fixedto the case and that is configured to generate a driving force thatcauses the agitating member to agitate the container holding the liquid.